Moving stairway



H- E. HANSEN MOVING STA'IRWAY Feb. 16, 1954 Filed March 15, 1948 INVENTOR Hans E. Han

ATTORNEY I WITNESSES; I nawflga Patented Feb. 16, 1954 2,663L339 MOVING STAIRWAY Hans E. Hansen,

Westinghouse Staten Island, N. Y., assignor to I Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 13, 1948, Serial No. 14,660

Claim.

of the handrail between the newel Wheels is employed by passengers ascending or descending on the stairway. The bottom return run is provided with a guide member preferably in the form of a wheel which is located intermediate the newel wheels and which is external to the loop formed by the handrail. The handrail on each side of the intermediate guide wheel is provided with a twist to present the same side of the handrail to the newel wheels and the guide wheel. Preferably the twists on both sides of the interabout the path of travel of the handrail. The handrail preferably has little or no permanent set or stretch.

In order to tension the handrail, a tensioning member is located between the intermediate guide wheel and one of the newel wheels.

member readily tion.

It is common practice to tension the step or conveyor chains of moving Stairways by biasing ment of the sprocket.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved handrail structure for moving stairways.

It is a further object vide a moving stairway vide a moving stairway having a continuous II two newel wheels, the handrail having a twist about its path of travel on each side of the intermediate guide wheel.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a method for tensioning handrails.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a moving stairway having coupling means extending between a step-chain sprocket and a handrail wherein the coupling means has suitficient yield to permit substantial movement of the sprocket in a direction transverse to its axis.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following nection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away and parts shown schematically of a moving stairway embodying the invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the lines 11-11, III--III, and IV--IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross section of a portion of a handrail; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a modified handrail guide wheel construction which may be em ployed.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a plurality of steps I which are coupled to a suitable conveyor such as one or more continuous or endless chains 3 for movement about spaced sprockets 5 and 1. The sprockets 5 and 1 are secured respectively to Shafts 5a and 1a which are mounted for rotation about their axes, In conventional practice, a suitable truss is provided necessary to illustrate or describe them. For driving the steps I, the shaft 5a may have secured thereto a sprocket H which is drivenfrom an electric motor l3 through an endless chain l5.

To assist passengers traveling on the moving stairway, a continuous or endless handrail I1 is mounted for movement about two newel wheels For driving the handrail, the shafts 5a and l9a respectively may carry sprockets 5b and i 922 which are coupled by means of an endless chain 23.

As shown in Fig. 2, the handrail I! has a U- shaped cross section comprising arcuate legs Fla and l 1b which are connected by a relatively flat band He. The handrail has an endless exdescription taken in con- I terior surface |1d which is presented to passengers ascending or descending the stairway. The handrail has an endless interior surface We which is a guide surface.

The upper run |1u of the handrail is guided between the newel wheels |9 and 2| by means of a conventional T-shaped stationary guide member 25 for presentation to passengers of the stairway. The lower or return run |1r of the handrail is guided between the newel wheels I9 and 2| in a novel manner by means of an intermediate guide wheel 21 which is mounted for rotation about a shaft 29. This shaft 29 may be secured in any suitable manner to the truss (not shown) commonly employed for such a moving stairway.

In order to understand the problems presented in guiding handrails, reference again may be made to Fig. 2. It will be recalled that the exterior surface |1d of the handrail is presented to stairway passengers. In order to prevent the formation of cracks, pits or scuffed areas in the surface, it is desirable that the surface be. clear of guide members throughout its entire path of travel. Furthermore, it may be observed that when the handrail is flexed, the exposed edges of the legs He and H17 are subjected to substantial forces. These edges crack or fail more readily when subjected to tension forces than when subjected to compression forces. it is desirable to avoid th application of substantial tension forces to the edges during movement of the handrail.

; Referring again to Fig. 1, it may be noted that the handrail between the newel wheel I9 and the guide wheel 21 is twisted about its path of travel through a substantial angle to present the guide surface |1e to both of the wheels. In a similar manner, the handrail between the guide wheel 21 and the newel substantial angle about its path of travel for the purpose of presenting the same guide surface |1e to the newel wheel 2|. Consequently, the exterior surface Hat is completely clear of all guide elements throughout its path of travel.

- The twisting of site directions on opposite sides of the guide wheel 21. For example, as viewed from the bottom of the stairway, the portion of the handrail engaging the guide wheel 21 may be displaced in a clockwise direction about the path of travel of the handrail relative to the portion of the handrail engaging the newel wheel I9. The portion of the handrail engaging the newel wheel 2| then may be displaced in a counterclockwise direction relative to the portion of the handrail engaging the guide wheel 21.

Although such twisting of the handrail pro- ,vides reasonably satisfactory service, it should be noticed that a substantial torsional force acting about the path of travel of the handrail would be applied to the portion of the handrail'engaging the guide wheel 21. For this reason, it is preferred to twist the handrail in the same direction on both sides of the guide wheel 21. Viewing the structure of Fig. 1 from the bottom of the stairway, it will be observed that the portion of the handrail engaging the guide wheel 21 is twisted clockwise substantially 180 about the path of travel of the handrail relative to the portion of the handrail adjacent the newel wheel l9. The portion of the handrail adjacent the newel wheel 2| also is rotated clockwise substantially 180 about the path of travel of the handrail relative to the portion engaging the guide wheel 21. With such a construction, minimum wear of the For this reason,

wheel 2| is twisted throu h a the handrail may be in oppohandrail as it travels over the guide wheel 21 is assured. It will be observed that between the guide wheel 21 and each of the newel wheels the outer edges of the handrail are slightly elongated relative to the center line of the handrail. However, since these distances are usually relatively long, the resulting stresses due to the twisting action are small.

Inasmuch as the guide wheel 21 is outsid the loop formed by the handrail l1 and urges the lower run of the handrail towards the upper run, a very compact structure is obtained.

In order to provide proper tension in the handrail, a tensioning wheel 3| is positioned to engage the guide surface |1e of the handrail. It will be observed that the tensioning wheel 3| is located intermediate the guide wheel 21 and one of the newel wheels 2|, but is relatively close to the wheel 2|. The wheel 3| is mounted for rotation about a shaft 33 which is secured to a link 35. The link, in turn, is pivoted for movement about a pin 31 which is secured to a stationary part of the truss (not shown). The tensioning wheel 3| may be biased in any suitable manner. For example, the desired biasing may be obtained by providing sufficient weight in the wheel.

Although the tensioning wheel 3| may be left free to pivot about the pin 31, preferably it is secured in an adjusted position. To this end, the link 35 may be provided with a threaded opening for reception of a cap screw 39. T1318 cap screw projects through a slot 4| in a stationary arm 43 which may be secured to the stairway truss. Consequently, by manipulation of the cap screw 39, the tensioning wheel 3| may be secured in an adjusted position.

Conveniently, the tensioning wheel 3| may be adjusted by rotation of the newel wheel l9 in the proper direction. It will be observed that when the newel wheel I9 is rotated by means of the chain 23 in a clockwise direction represented by the arrow 45, minimum sag of the handrail is produced adjacent the tensioning wheel 3|. However, when the newel wheel I9 is rotated by the chain 23 in a counterclockwise direction as represented by an arrow 41, maximum sag of the handrail adjacent the tensioning wheel 3| is produced. If the tensioning wheel 3| isprovided with a sufficient weight acting in a direction tending to increase the. sag of the adjacent portion of the handrail, it automatically will take the proper position for tensioning the handrail. While the newel wheel I9 is still rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the cap screw 39 may be manipulated to secure the tensioning wheel 3| in the desired adjusted position.

In order to tension the chain 3, the sprocket 1 is mounted for movement in a direction transverse to its axis as'represented by arr ows-5|. To this end,-the bearing 1b for the shaft 1a may be secured to a block 10 which is mounted for reciprocation in th direction of the arrows 5| on a suitable stationary supporting member 1d in a manner well understood in the art. The bearing .11) has secured thereto a rod 53 which projects through an opening in a stationary plate 55. The rod 53 has a threaded intermediate portion on which a nut 51 and a washer 59 are positioned. I'he nut 51 is rotated to compress a spring 6 between the plate 55 and the washer 59. Consequently, the spring urges the sprocket 1 towards the right as viewed in Fig. l. to tension the associated chain 3. Although only one chain and'one pair of sprockets 5 and 1am illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be observedthat in conventional practice two sprockets 1 would be mounted on the shaft 1a and two sprockets 5 would be mounted on the shaft 5a for reception of two spaced chains. The shaft 1a ordinarily would be provided with two bearings lb each of which would be biased in a similar manner by means of a spring similar to the spring 6 l.

Excessive movement or the sprocket i may be employed for controlling the energization of the motor 13 and for operating mechanism to stop the stairway as desired. For example, in Fig. l the rod 53 has secured thereto a movable electrlcal contact 63 which is positioned intermediate two pairs or fixed electrical contacts 65 and 67. In response to excessive movement of the sprocket 7, which may occur for example if one of the chains 3 breaks, one of the pairs of stationary contacts 65 or 61' is bridged by the movable contact 63 to connect the coil 69 of a relay 7| across a suitable source or energy which is represented in Fig. 1 by a battery 12. Energization of the coil 69 results in the closure of the contacts of the relay H to complete a circuit 13 which includes a suitable source of energization such as that repre sented by a battery 15. Completion of the circuit 13 may be employed for setting a stairway brake and for deenergizi'ng the stairway motor or for many other purposes. In Fig. l, the circuit 13 is shown as including the trip coil of a circuit interrupter 71 which controls the supply of electrical energy to the motor 13. Consequently, op eration of the relay H results in deenergization of the motor l3.

If the stairway is long, it may be desirable to drive the handrail through the newel wheel 2| as well as the newel wheel shafts la and 210: may sprockets 19 and 8| of an endless chain l9. In such cases, the have secured thereto which are coupled by means 83, If the chain 83 were of conventional construction, it might tend to interfere with normal or desired movement of the sprocket I in the direction of the arrows 5!. In order to prevent such interference, the chain 83 is provided with substantial slack and this slack is taken up by means of an idler sprocket 85 which is mounted for rotation about a shaft 81 secured to one end of a link 89. This link is mounted for rotation about a pin 9| which is secured to a stationary part of the stairway truss. The sprocket wheel 85 is biased towards the associated chain 83 by means of a rod 93 which has one end secured to the shaft 81. The remaining end of the rod 93 passes through a stationary plate 95 and is threaded for reception in a threaded nut 91. A spring $9 is compressed between the nut and the plate 95 for the purpose of urging the sprocket wheel 85 towards the left as viewed in Fig. 1. However, the spring 99 is capable of yielding to permit movement of the sprocket I.

With the structure herein set forth, it is very desirable that the handrail have very little stretch. It is desirable that the stretch should not exceed about 1%% and preferably not more than 1%. For example, a stretch of inches per 100 feet of handrail or less is satisfactory. To control the stretch, the handrail may have the construction illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the handrail has two layers of reinforcing cotton fabric FA adjacent the guide surface We of the handrail and two additional layers of cotton fabric FA adjacent the exterior surface l'ld of the handrail. In addition, two rows of cord C are embedded between the pairs of layers FA of fabric. Thes cords run parallel to the path of travel of the handrail and are constructed of material having little or no permanent set or stretch under the conditions of use. Although the cord C may be constructed of a material such as steel wire or strand, excellent results have been obtained from cords constructed of low-stretch cotton. The fabric and cord may be embedded in a suitable elastomcr, such as natural rubber. The processes for reenforcement and vulcanization of rubber to produce handrails are well known in the art.

If desired, the guide wheels for the handrail may have an inset designed to increase the traction therebetween. For example, in Fig. 6, the wheel or sheave It! may have a continuous peripheral groove m3 for reception of a V-belt I05. The V-belt is constructed of suitable material such as rubber having reenforcing fabric or cords embedded therein. The V-belt is snapped over the edge of the sheave into the groove and is positioned to engage the handrail l'l.

Subject matter herein disclosed is set forth in my copending patent application, Serial No. 359,939, filed June 5, 1953.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a moving stairway, a continuous flexible handrail member disposed for continuous movement through a predetermined path of travel, a pair of guide elements spaced along the path of travel for guiding the handrail member, the handrail member having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of stairway passengers, and a second continuous surface for engaging the guide elements, said handrail member having a first section and a second section extending between and. engaging the guide elements by paths along which each point on each section continuously advances during its transit from one of the guide elements to the other of the guide elements, said handrail member between the guide elements being angularly displaced about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle substantially larger than and a third guide element engaging the second surface intermediate the pair of guide elements.

2. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle is substantially 360, and. the third guide element is located outside the loop formed by the continuous handrail member.

3. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handrail member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the outer and inner surfaces of the handrail member comprising respectively said first and second continuous surfaces. said handrail member having less than 1%% stretch in the direction of travel thereof.

4. A movin stairway as defined in claim 2, wherein the angle of displacement of the handrail member between the third guide element and each of the pair of guide elements is substantially 180.

5. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 4 in combination with a tensioning member located within the loop formed. by the continuous handrail member and biased against the second surface of the handrail member intermediate the third guide element and one of the pair of guide elements.

6. In a moving stairway, a continuousflexlble handrail member disposed for continuous movement through a predetermined path of travel, a pair of uide elements spaced along the path direction between :ends of the return section between ing between and engaging the guide elements, a

third guide element positioned outside the loop formed by the handrail member and engaging the return section at a point intermediate the pair of guide elements, said point dividing the return section into two substantially similar, long parts extending in substantially the same general the pair of guide elements, the the pair of guide elements being angularly displaced about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle of substantially 360, said third guide element engaging the return section at a point wherein the angular displacement of the return section relative to one end of the return section is substantially 180.

'7. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 6 wherein the third guide element displaces the return section towards the first section to provide a compact structure.

8. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 6 in combination with a tensioning member positioned within the loop formed by the handrail member and engaging the return section at a point adjacent one of said pair of guide elements.

9. In a moving stairway having upper and lower landings, a pair of spaced newel wheels positioned respectively adjacent the upper and lower landings of the stairway substantially in a common plane, means mounting the newel wheels for rotation about their axes, a continuous, flexible handrail member disposed for continuous movement around said newel wheels, said handrail member having a first section between the newel wheels to be grasped by stairway passengers and a return section extending between the newel wheels, said newel wheels serving to reverse the direction of travel of the handrail member, the ends of the return section of the handrail member being displaced angularly from each other about the path of travel of the return section by substantially 360, a guide element positioned externally of the loop and engaging the return section of the handrail member at a point displaced angularly from one end of the return section about the path section by approximately 180, said guide element being positioned to displace the return section towards the first section.

10. In a moving stairway, a continuous flexible handrail member in the form member having a first continuous surface to be grasped by stairway passengers and a second continuous guide surface, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the member, and guide mechanism for guiding said handrail member for continuous movement through a predetermined closed path of travel, said guide mechanism comprising first and second guide elements disposed within said loop, and spaced from each other along the path of travel for guiding the handrail member, said guide elements engaging said guide surface, guide means located substantially between the first and second guide elements and positioned outside said loop for engaging said guide surface, said handrail member being twisted between said first and second guide elements to present the guide surface to said guide means, all parts of the portion of said handrail member traveling between said guide elements of travel of the return of a loop, said and engaging the guide means having a'substantial component of motion in the same direction.

11. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 10 wherein said guide elements are upper and lower newel wheels located at opposite ends of the stairway.

12. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 11 wherein the handrail member has an upper run located between the newel wheels to be grasped by stairway passengers and a second lower run located between the newel wheels, said guide means comprising a guide wheel engaging the lower run at a point substantially spaced from each of the newel wheels, said handrail member having a twisted section extending directly from the upper newel wheel to the guide wheel, said guide wheel being positioned to guide the lower run adjacent the upper run of the handrail member.

13. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 11 in combination with a tensioning wheel located within the loop adjacent the lower newel wheel and engaging the guide surface of the lower run.

14. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 13 in combination with means for adjustably positioning the tensioning wheel to adjust the path of travel of the handrail member.

15. In a moving stairway having a supporting structure, and steps movable relative to the structure through a path between an upper end to a lower end located at different levels, said path having an inclined portion extending between the ends, in combination with a continuous iiexible handrail member in the form of a loop, said handrail member having a first 0011-, tinuous surface to be grasped by stairway passengers and a second continuous guide surface, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the handrail member, and guide mechanism guiding said handrail member for continuous movement through a predetermined closed path of travel, said guide mechanism comprising an upper newel wheel located within said loop adjacent said upper end of the stairway, a lower newel wheel located within said loop adjacent said lower end of the stairway, and a guide wheel located below said loop at a position adjacent said inclined portion and spaced substantially from each of said ends, said handrail member being twisted between the guide wheel and each of the newel wheels to present said guide surface for engagement by each of said wheels, the wheels being mounted for rotation about their axes relative to the supporting structure.

16. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 15 in combination with means for rotating one of said newel wheels for imparting movement to the handrail member, said last-named newel wheel constituting the only driven member for imparting movement to the handrail member.

1'7. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 15 wherein the handrail member has less than 1 /4 stretch in the direction of travel thereof.

18. In a moving stairway, a supporting structure, a continuous flexible handrail in the form of an elongated loop, said handrail member having a U-shaped cross-section providing an outer continuous surface to be grasped by stairway passengers and an inner continuous guide surface, and guide mechanism engaging said guide surface for guiding said handrail member for continuous movement relative to the supporting structure through a predetermined closed path of travel having an upper run and a lower run, said guide mechanism comprising first and second spaced guide elements disposed within said loop adjacent the ends of the loop for guiding said handrail, guide means spaced by a substantial distance from each of the guide elements and located outside said loop to engage the lower run of the handrail member, said handrail member on said upper run presenting the outer surface to be grasped by stairway passengers, and the handrail member on twisted between said guide elements to present said handrail member between said guide elements having a substantial component of motion in the same direction.

19. In a moving stairway, a supporting structure, a continuous flexible handrail in the form of an elongated loo said handrail member having a U- haped cross-section providing an outer surface for guiding continuous movement relative to the supporting structure through a predetermined closed path of travel having an upper run and a lower run, said guide mechanism comprising first and second spaced guide elements disposed within said loop adjacent the ends of the loop for guiding said handrail, guide means spaced by a substantial distance from each of the guide elements and located outside said loop to engage the lower run of the handrail member, said handrail member on said upper run presenting the outer surface to be grasped by stairway passengers, and the handrail member on said lower run being twisted between said guide elements about the axis of the lower run to present the guide surface to said guide means and the guide elements, said guide means having a guide section located between the legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the handrail member, all parts of the lower run of said handrail member having a substantial component of motion in the same direction.

20. In a moving stairway, a supporting structure, a continuous flexible handrail in the form 10 of an elongated loop, said handrail member having a U-shaped cross-section providing an outer continuous surface to be grasped by stairway passengers and an inner continuous guide surface, and guide mechanism engaging said guide surface for guiding said handrail member for continuous movement relative to the supporting structure through a predetermined closed path of travel having an upper run and a lower run, said guide mechanism comprising first and second spaced guide elements disposed within said loop adjacent the ends of the loop for guiding said handrail, guide means spaced by a substantial distance from each of the guide elements and located outside said loop to engage the lower run of the handrail member, said handrail member on said upper run presenting the outer surface to be grasped by stairway passengers, and the handrail member on said lower run being twisted between said guide elements to present said guide surface to said guide means and the guide elements, all parts of the lower run of said handrail member between said guide elements having a substantial component of motion in the same direction, guide means located within the loop intermediate the first-named guide means and one of the guide elements to engage said guide surface for controlling the tension of the handrail member, and means for adjusting the guide means for adjusting the tension of the handrail member.

HANS E. HANSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

